Hiking / Bushwalking Essentials

My legs were heavy, my lungs were bursting, and my brain was trying to tell me I couldn’t do it. I felt like I was walking on the spot (or worse: backwards) – instead of each step propelling me forwards. This was Heartbreak Hill. We had been warned about this hill, but after a tough […]

As the year draws to a close, my ‘Top 9’ photos on Instagram has reminded me what a great year 2016 has been. I’ve been back to the Grampians on an awesome overnight hike (with the best campsite I’ve ever seen), (finally) hiked in Wilson’s Prom and walked along secluded beaches that you can only […]

The Overland Track is described by Parks & Wildlife Tasmania as ‘Australia’s premier alpine walk. It’s a 65 km, six-day trek through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park’. And it’s my next big hike! A while ago I started planning with my partner that we would do this walk to celebrate […]

You can’t turn sideways on the Internet lately without yet another article about how great hiking (and getting outside) is for your mental health – and health overall. Which is all well and good, and something I happen to wholeheartedly agree with – BUT – what happens when you have those times that you can’t […]

Gone are the days of putting on your thick brown woollen socks, your sensible khaki shorts (or zip off pants), plaid shirt, stiff leather boots, and heading out for a hike. Blokey blokes with a thick beard (or particularly adventurous women), a walking pole made from a stick found in the bush, and above average […]

Love them, or hate them, most of us will agree that keeping hydrated while hiking is a lot easier when we use them – the hydration bladder. I’ll admit, it can take a bit to get used to using them (not all mouthpieces are created equal), but I reckon once you give it a go […]

What you put inside your backpack* is always a hot topic among us hikers. It always seems to be a very fine line between over-packing and under-packing. So, I thought I’d give you a sneaky peek inside my backpack, and let you know my thinking when it comes to what I take – and more […]

There has been a lot written about the benefits of hiking (and walking). It’s not just the physical benefits either. There can also be fantastic emotional and psychological benefits. I have also written about the positive benefits that hiking has had for me – here and here are two examples. This past week has seen […]

This may seem slightly strange on a hiking blog, but this post is all about NOT hiking. You’ve done the research, you’ve made plans, you’re pretty much packed. Then something happens. Is that something enough to change your plans? Here are my tips for when you should pull the pin (or tweak your plans): The […]

What if I told you that you could spend 5 cents* on something that would change the way you hike forever? And that it’s likely that it’s something you have already? You’d probably look at me like I was a bit crazy! So – what am I talking about? The humble zip lock bag. It […]